As a timely and pertinent aside to the other thread:


Senate Majority Leader Schumer And Two Others Introduce New Cannabis Reform Bill

Iris Dorbian Contributor

Jul 21, 2022,01:19pm EDT

https://www.forbes.com/sites/irisdo...ew-cannabis-reform-bill/?sh=778d73137ce3

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks with reporters following a closed-door caucus ... [+] COPYRIGHT 2022 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The legal cannabis industry received an added boost today in Congress when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a bill, which if passed, would provide sweeping cannabis policy reforms across the nation.

The legislation, known as the Cannabis Adminstration and Opportunity Act, would deschedule and decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the federal Controlled Substances Act. It would also shift regulatory responsibility from the Drug Enforcement Administration to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. Further, the measure would also allow the state-regulated medical and adult-use cannabis industries already in place to operate without federal interference.

However, not every provision in this bill is so rosy. On top of the already hefty state taxes imposed on the industry, the bill would also institute a federal excise tax of 5 to 25% on cannabis. Obviously, this would be problematic for small cannabis businesses.


Yet industry leaders are hailing the measure for what it's attempting to do, which is "to bring federal law into harmony with the states and the vast majority of voters who have called for an end to prohibition,” said Aaron Smith, co-founder and CEO of the National Cannabis Industry Association, a cannabis trade group, in a statement. “We look forward to working with Senators on both sides of the aisle to improve the tax provisions in this bill on behalf of small cannabis businesses and eventually pass it into law."

The CAOA Act was introduced after a draft circulated last year. Based upon feedback provided by NCIA and other advocacy organizations, a number of changes to the legislation were made. Now the bill includes the following:


The Feds Are Coming For Delta-8 THC

*Changes to the weight quantity to qualify a person for felony cannabis distribution or possession charge under the section from 10 pounds to 20 pounds;

*Provides that a court shall automatically, after a sentencing review, expunge each federal cannabis conviction, vacate any remaining sentence, and resentence the defendant as if this law had been in place prior to the original sentencing; and,

*Removes the requirement to maintain a bond for any cannabis business that had less than $100,000 in excise tax liability in the prior year and reasonably expects excise tax liability in the current year to be below such amount.

In the meantime, The SAFE Banking Act, which would allow banks to work with legal cannabis businesses without prosecution, has still not be brought up for a vote in the Senate chamber, despite being approved the House of Representatives seven times and enjoying bipartisan support.

Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 37 states while the adult-use market is legal in 19 states as well as D.C.

"However, not every provision in this bill is so rosy. On top of the already hefty state taxes imposed on the industry, the bill would also institute a federal excise tax of 5 to 25% on cannabis. Obviously, this would be problematic for small cannabis businesses."

The 'why'

It's ALWAYS about money (taxes). ALWAYS.
They're going to do what they will. But I've never seen a doper that was a contributor to the world. Quite the opposite.

LOL While I don't partake I have several friends that had successful careers and are now retired and they smoke a lil pot every day and have for YEARS.

Hold into the Panama Red....

Hello black market.

And that my friends is why the blackmarket cannabis business is flourishing. Over regulation and crippling taxation. EVERYTHING govt touches turns to schidt. The only somewhat functioning branch of govt that could actually accomplish it's mission was defense, but now they are going woke and lowering standards and enlistments have plummeted. Until govt gets the hell out of the dope business, and Archer Daniels Midland starts growing it by the square mile, crime, cartels and criminals will dominate the industry. I'm no fanboy of dope, but I'm even less a fanboy in telling you what you can put in your body. Let the free market work, grow so much bud the price will drop to less than alfalfa, problem solved.

It's all about the money. If you can't be them, tax them.

Got 4 1000w Sunleaves reflectors and moguls just waiting still boxed up.

Been using a transformer for a door stop for 10 years.

How are they going to tax it when you can grow it in your own backyard.








OH Wait it is the Gooberment and in some States they Tax the rain water that falls from the sky.

They will find a way forgive me for my above comment.

I dont use myself, but this isnt true anymore. Many kinds of pot out there these days that do not negatively affect your drive

We would get all of the problems, none of the money....the black market is booming on "legal" states

I wouldn’t mind it being removed from The Fed controlled substance list. It feels maybe ten years too early to get enough support to pass. Too many Boomers think it’s devil weed and their wives/gf will go bed down with their pool boys and lawn guy. LOL

https://www.news9.com/story/6183517...countrys-1-supplier-of-illegal-marijuana

OBN Agents Say Oklahoma Has Become Country's #1 Supplier Of Illegal Marijuana

TULSA, Oklahoma - The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics says Oklahoma is now the number one black market supplier of illegal marijuana in the country.

There are 8,500 medical marijuana grow licenses in Oklahoma and agents say 25 percent of them are run by criminal organizations from places like China, Russia and Mexico.

People all over Green Country tell News on 6 have seen a huge increase in Asians buying land and creating huge pot operations right next to family farms.

Josh King and his family bought this historic piece of property known as Bald Knob Hill, near Henryetta. Then, a marijuana operation moved in across the road and within a matter of months, had nearly every inch of the 31 acres, covered with buildings.

He says 24-7, there's a terrible chemical smell that makes it tough to breathe, bright lights, loud generators, heavy traffic and even gunfire, some, right over Josh's house. He worries about his family’s safety and he also worries about how the workers are being treated at the site.

"We went up there and three times, they've added on to the house, a roof and a room with a dirt floor with old cafeteria seating in it and an older woman ladling soup stuff and their fed a little portion each," says Josh King, the homeowner.

He says all the workers speak Mandarin but one and whenever he asks questions, the answer is the same, we have a certificate.

He says the trash, the environmental impact, the noise, all need to be addressed and shouldn't be allowed this close to families.

"If you’re going to have something that big, OK is going to have some kind of zoning laws or some kind of something," says King.

There are now around 40 marijuana farms just in the Henryetta area.

"It has changed the landscape of our entire state. I've contacted legislators and they said, “well, you voted for it, I don't think we voted for this," says realtor Tammie Hiatt.

State Drug Agents say buyers from China, Russia, Mexico and other countries are coming here and making offers for land that's two, three, even 10 times over the asking price. They pay with cash and want a closing within 10 days.

Josh says he's called everybody he can think of for help.

This family saved up for their first home and bought this little piece of land and for months, they were in heaven.

"Wonderful, peaceful, we're not too far out of town but far enough, it was great," says the homeowner.

But then, this pot operation moved in. The smell is horrible, She hears people screaming, there are bright lights, loud noises, gunfire. She even had one of the workers jump into her yard and take off running. Now, she doesn't allow her children to play outside and is scared in her own home.

"I'm stuck and I'm scared for my kids every day. I don't know why people are allowing it. I don't understand why there are no laws against it or anything. I can't get out of here. I can't pay my mortgage and pay to be somewhere else," says the homeowner.

Lori Fullbright, reporter: "The thing is, people from several different counties who have never met each other, never talked to each other, all share very similar stories, all have questions and don't seem to be getting answers."

Rudy lives near Bristow with his wife, after buying their dream retirement home on a beautiful piece of land. They've spent years, making improvements, clearing land to create meadows, then, Chinese nationals bought the land next door and built hoop houses and dorms and a processing plant.

"On a scale of one to 10, it's a 15, real frustrating. We wanted peace and quiet," says Rudy.

He has the same complaints, 18 wheelers running all night, tearing up the road, loud noises, bright lights, gunfire and trying to talk to anyone is hard, because no workers speak English. He doesn't understand how it's legal.

The law says 75 percent of the operation must be owned by an Oklahoman who’s lived in the state for at least two years.

Lori: "You think any Oklahoman owns that business?"

Rudy: "Oh no."

He doesn’t care what nationality the people who are running the operation, he simply doesn’t believe it belongs near homes.

"I can understand raising cattle, this is cattle country or crops but that is an industrial business and they get by saying they're growing marijuana, it's agricultural. Our politicians need to get off their butts and do something," says Rudy.

Lori Fullbright, reporter: "He feels he has no choice but to sell but their terrible catch 22 is, no one wants to buy with this operation next door except maybe the folks who own the operation."

"I want to cry every time I think about it," says Rudy.

The two farms in our stories, do have Oklahomans listed as the owners.

OBN agents say true ownership is often hard to determine because illegal operations use ghost owners, where an Oklahoman may be listed as the property owner for 200 farms and shell corporations are used to hide true ownership.

They say they come to Oklahoma because our licenses and our land is cheaper here than in places like California.

Oklahoma has 8,500 licensed grow operations, California has 3,500.

The law also says the marijuana grown in OK has to stay here but OBN agents say it’s being shipped everywhere and they, along with the DEA have intercepted several shipments to the East Coast.

OBN says the OK Medical Marijuana Authority has hired a new director who is hiring many more inspectors to try to get caught up on checking on these operations.

The OBN and DEA don't want to just stop the illegal growers, they want to go after the people at the top of these organizations and that takes time.

OBN says it did recently deny 400 new applications and plan to deny many that are coming up for renewal.

I’m a start cleaning pools.

But I ain’t rubbin no bunions

Be high AF and bangin a 60 year old Linda Evans cougar

All this talk gonna make me roll a stomper now.

100% against.
Throw in alcohol, tobacco, and gambling.

Never used weed, drink a bit, used to chew. Gambling is stupid.

But folks is gonna do all of the above, you can't stop it without turning into
the kind of country I sure don't want.

This pot bill is Democratic(retarded).
Pretty good examples in several states what happens when you legalize
it. Then tax it heavily.

Illegal grows produce it much cheaper.
You get crime, violence, and 0 tax dollars.
The legal part just makes possession easier.
Along with low level distribution.

And in the background, hey man , pass that tater .
Mmmm , good shiet , yeah dude I’m gonna mail in my ballot and vote old shumer and piss on them red neck republicans.
Want to lock us up for this shiet .

You can bet your ass that and the chi-Ching factor played into this move .
Lol , they don’t give a shiet about legal , doesn’t affect them one way or the other .
Kenneth

While on the clock,,

I dont use myself, but this isnt true anymore. Many kinds of pot out there these days that do not negatively affect your drive[/quote]

How do you know what he's seen? I have never seen a productive doper either.

I suspect that if it was totally legal, to grow and possess, there would be no need for these big grow houses. If you wanted to grow some, you could. If you wanted to sell or trade some to a neighbor, you could. Remove the value of it and you remove a lot of the problems from the equation. Just like booze, if people want it, they're going to get it, prohibition or not. Now education about it is a whole nother subject.

Legalizing something is one thing.

Making it legal so you can tax and regulate the hell out of it is nothing more than govt getting their cut...

Do not get me wrong but I see no need for the Feds having the ATF. Leave it up to the States.

Get the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT out of our lives!

The DEA and CIA alone are the American version of the Mexican cartels. Allowing the feds into our lives like we’ve done is exponentially more dangerous than all the drugs combined. Pot is FAR less dangerous than big government!

As always, cui bono.

So current Marijuana has been shown to cause increased psychotic episodes in young people that may be a contributing factor to at least some of these mass shooting and suicides and has been predicted to increase traffic deaths to 7000 more annually because of much increased THC levels, but let's make it more available anyway. After all, the lives of our kids is only worth something when the left can take guns away but seems less important when there is money to made or taxed.

You stoners crack me up. People should be able to do whatever they want as long as they don't screw over other people doing it. Personally I can't take the skunk's azz smell LOL. To each his own.

Anybody know where I can buy a nice sized greenhouse for a grow house in the backyard? It must also come with a 50 gallon still and all parts that can be set up in the corner while the grow lights cover the rest of the area. Thought I would kill 2 birds with one stone.

Paul Pelosi says thanks Nancy for the tip. He's all invested.

These corrupt politicians think of nothing more than retaining power, and a close second is getting rich at our expense, so you can bet they are skimming off the top.

YOU GOT THAT 100% RIGHT

Hold into the laundry baskets scattered amongst the hillsides.

Lots of alcoholics, marijuana users, and nicotine addicts work full time and pay their way. Nicotine addiction has actually kept Social Security afloat much longer than it otherwise would have made it. Smoke was killing a bunch of them in their 60s, about the time they became eligible to draw.

Keeping the populace stoned and stupid makes for easy control.

Sheesh

Hold into the WeddingCrasher

New weed does damage faster.

Old 70s wake n bakes often made it 60 before mentally cracking......medically determined to be schizophrenia.
Nursing home.

New stuff has 30 yr olds damn near retarded

Dunno if new in moderation has an quicker expected damage date. Stoners dont fuggin care.

Dude contributes more to the world in 1 hour than you could in ten lifetimes

Simply de-criminalizing weed was too easy. They had to find a way to industrialize and tax it.

The crane operator we used years ago to set our trusses was always stoned. I remember sitting on top plate of wall 3 stories high, and ducking from the incoming trusses. Dude was so stoned he nearly took my head off a couple times. Machinery & weed don't mix. I don't care if they legalize it or not. Pills & booze are more harmful in my opinion. To each their own.

Who is that fellow?

Correct. And what happens legal stuff gets to expensive?

The truth nobody wants to hear....

The world is getting fugged up as Hogan's goat anyway.

Might as well light up and mellow out.

fuggin revenuers.

gonna hafta find someone to change some words and update this song:



lt,

you been in TX for awhile? No bootleggin goin on in dry town and counties? All booze sales and imbibing was on the up and up, right?

Bet if you lived or worked in a dry area you knew a few folks that broke some rules, maybe even a judge or cop?

Maybe, if the Goobermint kept their grubby paws off it, at least to a minimum (1% would likely bring in $ Billions) the legal stuff wouldn't get too expensive?

Dope smoking is the path to a more conservative USA. Right.

He needed a come to Jesus meeting. I’ve been 3 stories up on an outside wall hangin on with my legs along with friends. That guy would have caught hell.

Just need two bong hits instead of a whole fatty to reach Nirvana now.

Newcastle Brown, I'm tellin' you, it can sure smack you down
Take a greasy whore and a rollin' dance floor
It's got your head spinnin' round
If you live on the road, well there's a new highway code
You take the urban noise with some Durban poison
It's gonna lessen your load

What this really means is that DC scum like Schumer have found a way to make big business profit bigly from this and squash the little guys already there. Same old DC horseshit.

Don't partake myself nowadays either. But, I'm a child of the sixties and seventies and know plenty of Boomers who are democrat single agenda voters because of all the laws against marijuana. Other than this, they would vote Republican probably.

They also must have come to some arrangement with their Cartel buddies that will benefit both.

In places where it is legal, they are already seeing marijuana getting stronger and stronger, as people get desensitized and need ever stronger hits. Some of it is now so concentrated that if a first-timer tried it, he could die. Hospitals are reporting a sharp rise in MJ overdoses. People who now smoke it every day have brain damage. Also, just as predicted, highway accidents and death rates are soaring in those states.

That whole "it's harmless and non-addicting" line is crap.

"I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and didn't like it. I didn't inhale and I didn't try it again."

Lot of not so in that. Not trying to glorify weed but issues with potency are usually because someone added a little something (they called it Illy here adding formaldehyde or even fentanyl). And those adding it are selling to the black community. Also seen some fake weed being sold that has god knows what in it. I put 30 years in a career fire department and my son is a paramedic and no one here in Connecticut are seeing that. Flame on.

Colorado is seeing it. That is increased THC not the things you mentioned and young people are dying.

I agree and the same applies to alcohol. Yet many people can and do handle alcohol just fine, many on a daily basis. So where do you draw the line as far as what's illegal? I've met a few people who can't drink alcohol, so they partake in the devil's weed. Is it your call to make their choice illegal?

As far as people dying, you read about alcohol poisoning cases all the time. Frat boy initiation gone wrong, skid row bum found in the gutter and so forth.

I've never read about a case of marijuana poisoning, although I'm sure it happens.

I will not argue that alcohol is fine while marijuana is not. But the fact is that alcohol has been legal for a very long time, and marijuana has not. There is no need to legalize something else that causes so many societal problems.

According to the article I read, "normal" marijuana contains something like 2% THC. The stuff that growers have now developed can have as much as 98%. I'll have to find that article to be sure of those numbers, but they're close.

There is no marijuana with 98% THC, not even refined oils have that percentage. 98% would be a distillate.


Beer has around 5% alcohol; wine about 13-14%, liquor 40% and up. Or cask strength, 151 Rum etc is up around 75%.

Do you want someone telling you that you can't have cask strength liquor because it's too strong?

Or that you really don't need a 30-round magazine?

I don't know what THC levels were back before states started legalizing but I'd bet it was more than 2%. I have not seen or heard of any 98%THC mj (flower) or even concentrate for that matter.

As I said, I may have to find that article to verify the numbers, but what they're selling in Colorado now is incredibly potent.

If we say that "this" is okay, so why not that, then if "that" is okay, why not the other, and then if "the other" is okay... A line does have to be drawn somewhere. I'm fine with it being drawn between medicinal use of marijuana and recreational use.

You guys say you have never seen an ambitious or hard working pot smoker?


You also believe that churchy folks, sportsmen and all campfire people are Republicans.

It's the demographics....they don't lie.


Better than half the people you know are drinkers or pot smokers.

Some are both.

You can google "906 fire" and choose a location. All the products and their potency are listed.

Got a link? Could the deaths be vax related?

The pot itself is potent but he really strong stuff is the concentrates. 26% is really high THC percentage in pot itself but concentrates can be way up there near 90% I have heard.

Oh no, strong pot, society is doomed......Laffin

https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/22/attempted-robbery-turns-deadly-thackerville/

Published: Jul. 22, 2022 at 12:05 PM CDT

THACKERVILLE, Okla. (KXII) - An attempted robbery turned fatal at Border Buds dispensary in Thackerville Thursday evening.

Deputies said they got a 911 call about shots fired around 9 p.m.

While in route, deputies said they were notified there was an attempted robbery of the dispensary. The report claimed 2 suspects and an employee exchanged gunfire.

Deputies said one of the suspects was found dead at the scene with multiple shot wounds from the employee.

Deputies cleared the building and canvased the area around the scene, but were unable to locate the second suspect.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was later called to conduct an investigation.

According to the Love County Sheriff Office, the incident is an active ongoing investigation and not all facts are known or presented at this time.

IMHO.
This post is very disturbing.

It may endorse legalization.
But it kinda hints at the cost.

If the desire to make something legal, that can be easily bought illegally,
is so strong they vote that one issue.

While knowingly vote against everything that our country has stood for,
And in turn destroy it?

Just to be able to get high with stuff they bought at the corner store?

Says something about Weed Burners.

Bullshit.

Joe Rogan is a regular user of marijuana and seems to be unusually productive for what he does. Rush Limbaugh was also using it for therapeutic purposes and while still cranking out content.

Recreational drug use is degenerate, but the affect on a person's productivity really depends on the person.

Don't disagree with a single word you said. It's disgusting. And not patriotic at all.

In contrast to that, there are many that do partake and are quite patriotic. That includes probably hundreds here on this board. They have to acquire their stash illegally because if they bought at the pot stores, or had a medical marijuana card, it would ruin their ability to buy firearms legally when they have to answer questions on a 4473.

I, myself, have no issue with someone smoking marijuana in the privacy of their own home. I have seen both ends of the spectrum as far as work when it comes to marijuana users. Some will work like animals (eg: my ex Russian paratrooper neighbor and his girlfriend), and some are lazy fugks that won't get off the couch. I see no difference from this group and the normal spectrum of the American populace

Supporting prohibition and organized crime is patriotic?

I can't Define people's ethics for them. I just want to know where they stand with totalitarians. Are they with me or against me when the rubber finally meets the road..

The biden admin. are probably all stoned as spotted-ass-apes.

Noteworthy that the US Government was under the impression they couldn't outlaw the sale of alcohol without amending the Constitution, and did so. They did so because the power to outlaw a recreational drug didn't reside the Constitution. That makes it strictly a state affair. Yet, somehow, years later, the US Government decided to outlaw pot, and the fact that said authority didn't reside in the US Constitution didn't stop them. They felt no need to amend the Constitution to permit them to outlaw it.

That’s an excellent point when put it those terms.

I’ve always believed that it should be a states rights issue but when put in the context of alcohol requiring an amendment to the constitution but other drugs especially marijuana being banned at the federal level without a constitutional amendment it really illustrates the hypocrisy of our government.

I haven’t smoked pot in 20 years and it was never really my thing but I don’t believe that it’s anymore harmful or problematic than alcohol. There’s a world of difference between hard drugs and a few tokes of pot.

Fast forward to what the empty suit stool sample in the White House is doing with EO's to circumvent The Law. That geriatric pig and his court have no shame, or respect for the Constitution.

We already have a black market as it is with turf wars.

Yep, and successful, because of their work ethics! Those that are lazy, would be lazy, with or without, booze and pot. There has been worthless people since the beginning.

Actually and factually just about everything fedgov now regulates comes under states’ rights constitutionally. Quoting:

The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

That’d be a good campaign slogan. Unique.

Give me a line that is right, Jim.

We would be much better off if alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and all recreational drugs.... were non-existent.

But I can't see a way that should be considered in a free society.

On the religious track, if you believe, God could have controlled our
actions completely. But he gave us free will.


So, do we have a right to ban anything?

Or, do we simply eliminate prescriptions, throw the door open,
And let Oxycodone be sold like Tic-Tacs?

I made a big jump there, but where is the line?

Do we allow pot, but no more?
What about THC level?

If pot is ok, Hash should be. Same thing right?


I guaranfuckintee you that within 5 years...wait. I think I have already
heard of some "crazy" folks that want to legalize harder stuff.

The numbers just don't support prohibition at all.

Marywanna madness propaganda will live in infamy, then greedy gooberment will tax it until the crime will continue,
Gotta keep alla them coppers working, eating up them tax dollars, so's we can all feel safer.


Insanity at its finest

I agree that as a society we would be better off without all of it. Same as you I don’t see a way for the Feds to be legitimately involved and people to some degree can and will do what they’ll do. Society should protect freedom above all else but I won’t go hardcore libertarian. A society can’t function in a fee for all absent any moral standards or societal norms. Our founders said as much.

I think without question marijuana is nowhere near as destructive individually or societally as hard drugs. Marijuana isn’t something that people steal, prostitute, neglect there kids (unless already so inclined) ruin their lives over or commit crimes to obtain anymore than alcohol.

I think I’m hearing you say that it’s a states rights issue and completely agree. IMO it should be handled with the drug courts and rehab for non violent addicts at the state level. Using doesn’t need to be made a crime but if a person is committing crimes to pay for the habit, getting high in public, neglecting their children, panhandling, sleeping or crapping on public streets ect offering rehab programs in leu of jail time makes sense to me. Dealers should face stronger jail or prison sentences. When states or cities allow a free for all it just creates misery for everyone.

Lemming,

I don't know what the heck you hear me say.
Hell, I dont have a position I can feel solid arguing.

I'm against legalization, but not sure how pot stacks up compared
to alcohol.

Or, barring legal booze as a standard, the societal ramifications of
legal pot.


Or, the F'ed up effects of making every stoner carrying around a
"normal" amount of weed legal. When, they have taxed it so much
that Cartels are taking over the domestic production or still importing
it illegally. That, creates the worst possible crime situation.


Honestly there are so many things to consider
that I question the intelligence or integrity of those who give an
immediate, unqualified answer.

That was Bob Dole's campaign slogan, wasn't it?

If we enforced civil conduct, you could legalize drugs and all would be well, because drug addicts who loitered or camped in non-camping areas, or otherwise behaved in ways not consistent with civil order, would be arrested and jailed. The standard should be, use whatever drugs you like, but we are holding you 100% accountable for your actions without regard to your drug use.

Legalize it or not, everyone here I hope understands the The Mob or some form of organized crime will run it from production to distribution to retail. More weed will be sold out the back door than the front door.

This is not going to be Cheech and Chong with a green house running a neighborhood weed shop as a small business.

Hemp was grown by George Washington, but he, as POTUS, organized an ad hoc army, led by General Lee's father, and marched against illegal stills (Whiskey Rebellion). FWIW.

Organized crime only deals in illegal products.

Glad to know that. I was misinformed evidently. I rest better with the knowledge the Mob never ran Vegas, or legal prostitution in Nevada. Never used legit businesses as fronts for nefarious activities.👌

If it was it didn’t do him much good. Thinking that was The Era of Lame Republicans wasn’t it?

A comment on previous analogies. JMHO but equating and comparing marijuana to alcohol brings no truth to any discussion. These two are so different in both short term and long term effect they shouldn’t be used in the same sentence. This goes for the individual user as well as society. As I said before it’s been decades since I smoked reefer and my only personal interest now would be for pain management IF it is effective and IF it is legal. As far as legality is concerned the government is going to get their cut. I’d personally prefer the “commercial” version to be tax stamped while allowing personal use garden growing . Kill the illegal growers profits and they will be gone.

Processed opioids & coca and amphetamines are a completely different realm. Have nothing good to say about non prescription usage.

TRH,

If our little newspaper didn't put DUI, drug possession, and drug and alcohol
fueled crimes in the police report, it would be a couple thefts. Some weeks
it wouldn't exist. As is, it's about 1/3 of a page weekly.




hatari,
When they legalized medical here, a guy who has a Maryland
"Legal" grow business bought the old leather car seat plant.
All 275,000 sqft.

Total remodel, made it 3 stories instead of the high ceiling, equipped it
wall to wall despite his initial claims that he only needed 1/4 of the
original footage for production. Which, has held true.

Rumor has it he is building a "motel" to house migrant workers, and a building that fits the rumor has recently started going up near the plant.
In a place no tourist is going to stay.

It would appear his original plan was for the eventual recreational market.
And, there is a tremendous amount of money available for investment
in a business that doesn't exist and doesn't have a clear timeline for
a beginning, or any return on investment. No to mention that getting
permitted, while likely as an existing grow, isn't even a sure thing when
legalization occurs.



Makes one wonder about that $$$.

But, not really.

Right now, that whole business is technically Orginized Crime.
On a scale and in the open, like never seen before.






Shootem,


"Hard" drugs are much different, 100% agree.

But, can we draw a line that will hold for 100 years?

Medical pot was the toe through the door.

Despite pot not having a medical history, scientifically.

Cocaine and Opiates most certainly do have that medical history.
With certain opiates being available over the counter as recently
as the beginning of the Opiate Epidemic.
We had several pharmacies making a stomach medicine to be used
when you had the puking shïts, and sold OTC. It had an opiate component
that now requires an Rx.

All things weed were invented in BC, since it was decriminalized I see........big money put into the industry, just as fast..... big money lost in the industry and after the initial group hug, the reality of a flooded market has it sorting itself out.

Regulation requires time and money, the smaller "mom and pops" are under no such regulation and weed can be purchased from the "mom and pops" cheaper than from the regulated vendors.

Previously, weed was the number 1 industry in BC ahead of logging and mining, not anymore. I think the idea of decriminalizing weed was a political move to pander for votes, but really has just shifted things around like a shell game...pot shops struggling or going broke.

Weed has gone from $2,000+ a pound to $500 a pound so.....if anything has changed it has freed up law enforcement for other things.

And the way I see it, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

And maybe some agencies could be cut to save some taxes on us peons?

Who knows about 100 years. Most likely our understanding of life that far ahead is similar to Homo Erectus’ understanding of where we are now. Societal changes and technology now progress logarithmically. A century now equals a millennium in the past. I wouldn’t fit in I’m sure.

I’ll agree medical was a test balloon for non-medical use. But I’ll hold that we really don’t know what medicinal benefits exist in derivatives of the plant. The lid has been on tight for a long long time. Pharma companies making big bucks on synthetics probably have been lobbying against legalization for decades. With federal legalization, and it’s coming, I expect research to bump up in anticipation of a new “holistic” medical market slot. That can’t be bad. There’s no doubt in my mind it is effective for maladies currently being treated with such drugs as Xanax, Valium, phenergan, and some pain meds. And addiction is way down the ladder of possibility compared to benzodiazepines and opioids.

Interesting about cocaine. Many folks don’t know there is a thing called pharmaceutical cocaine. It’s a #1 level topical anesthetic particularly for facial work. Way far back in another world I was doing service work on some anesthesia machines in the OR Suite one evening of a small town hospital. I heard one of the nurses call down the hall “I’m locking the drug cabinet, is anything still out?” Another nurse that had been buttoning up the room I was working in said “wait a minute, I need to bring the cocaine”. I said to the effect, no kidding? What do you use cocaine for? She smiled and said “The nurses ;)”

Is the opiate sold over the counter paregoric? I can remember my mother trying to give me a dose of that for something and I heaved. Couldn’t stand even the smell from then on.

Add lawyers and for profit prison enterprises in the mix too. Treatment centers make bucks too. Then the politicians on the take getting their cut.

Legal pot sales are a cash only business and the perfect vehicle for money laundering. Strip clubs, street drugs and legal pot sales are all controlled by OC. Every tax payer in America is a victim of these victimless activities.


mike r

How is that?

Gonenuntin',
Hemp was grown in WV during WWII. Then stopped.
It grows wild along parts of the South Branch of the Potomac to this day.
Spread by high water. Looks like Mary Jane, they claim you would get sick before you got high smoking it. Not sure now, but 20 years ago, doing
anything at all with it was illegal.

I read a blurb way long time ago about some freaky people harvesting hemp cannabis in a midwestern state where it was once cultivated. Apparently feral hemp was doing very well on its own. Seems these folks were strangers and thought they’d hit the mother lode. They were charged and found guilty of Destruction of Wildlife Habitat. IIRC hemp was a beneficial plant for feeding and nesting birds including pheasant.

just look at Oregon and several other states to see what a roaring success Dope Sales are and its contribution to our society...

I've always been against illegal drugs and always will be... it provides nothing to society and at the same time is a major drain on society by most of its users/ smokers, etc.

but all government bureaucrats think about is taxing things... giving them more and more of the public's money, and more and more control over every day life to get that money.... well you M.F. bureaucrats, there is only 100 pennies in a dollar, and always will be only a 100 pennies in a dollar..
but politicians still think that more and more of those pennies should all belong to them....

I'm against ALL of this Bullschidt....

This ^^^^ x 1000

What's your stance on alcohol, probably the most harmful drug of them all.

Bullshit. How come the pot smokers on here (if there are any) aren't willing to admit it?

Its use should be strongly discouraged and it should remain regulated and perhaps be regulated more than it is.

I use to hang out with a county judge who smoked.

They're here and many have admitted it. Do you only read what fits your agenda?

Well, this thread would certainly be the place to "own up". Has anyone done it??

And why the "war on drugs" is never going to end is because there will always be "Revenuers" to enforce the tax laws. Just look at the sheer amount of money spent by our dear friends who enforce taxes on alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and the methods they go to.

Growing it in your backyard will be "legal", but if you "share" and don't pay your taxes on it, they will penalize you.

Absolutely no difference than making beer & wine or running a still in your house. There is a tax scheme to control it and plenty of folks to enforce it. They just choose not to "investigate" those who are producing small batches. If you were to start sharing your bounty, someone with a chip on their shoulder will dime you out and you get a visit from the tax boys.

Federal excise tax amounts on alcohol-containing beverages is based on the amount of actual alcohol present, thus beer has a lower tax per ounce than whiskey. I wonder if some bright(?) individual will do the same in regards to THC levels in commercial products?
Who knows what schemes they have in mind, but you can bet it isn't in your best interest.

Personally, I think this is a move to garner more votes for Democrats and allow multi-million dollar investments in the weed business by Congress-critters before anyone else. There's billions to be made and those leeches get first shot at it.

Folks are going to drink, use dope, use tobacco, or any other physiologically altering substance no matter what is legal or illegal.

Just my $0.02,

Ed

. I smoked enough to warm an igloo when I was younger! That count!

Is it anyone else's business?

I'd rather be a roper than a doper.

Had a friend in SoCal who had relatives in Kansas or some state near there.

Used to drive his VW Bug there, fill up a couple of big plastic trash bags with "ditch weed" , bring it back, dry it out, bag it up, sell it to the sailors and marines at the beach that just got out of boot camp. Late 60's/Early 70's. Them fellas had never seen marijuana...........................but they found out hemp smoking would give you a good......................headache.

I've said it before on here..................................



Unlike a certain president.........................


I may have inhaled............................


a little......................................

Preemptive measure to orchestrate a prisoner swap for Britney Griener.